Sliding door lock assembly



April 8, 1969 RWMALT'ERS 3,437,364

SLIDING DooR Loox ASSEMBLY Qs/f IMM@ S...

April 8, 1969 R. w. wALTERsg SLIDING DOOR LOCK ASSMBLY sheet Z ers .filed sept. 21, 1967 APlil81959 R. w.wAl TERs j 3,437,364

SLIDING DOOR LC CK ASSEMBLY Filed sept; 21, 1967 .Sheet .a of3 zg. W ,N

United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 292-113 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lock assembly utilized on a sliding door and having a rotatable bolt providing an exposed hook end cooperating with a locking plate mounted in the edge of the door jamb and having an opening receiving the hook end of the bolt. The lock assembly is mounted within theV edge of the door and has a rotatable hub adapted to be actuated by a suitable handle operatively connected thereto; the hub having a pivot arm normally biased to locked position. A pair of locking arms are operatively connected at one end to the pivot arm opposite the hub and at the opposite ends to a control pin extending through the rotatable lock bolt. A pair of adjusting plates encompass the locking arms and lock bolt, being mounted at one end on the hub and at the opposite end to an adjusting yoke cooperating with an adjusting rod; the plates having arcuate slots receiving the control pin to define the path of movement thereof to swing the bolt between locked and unlocked position about a pivot pin.

The present invention relates to a lock assembly and more particularly to a lock assembly utilized for a sliding door such as a glass door leading from a house to a patio or porch.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a lock assembly for a sliding door or panel where the lock assembly is received in an edge of the door and cooperates with a locking plate aligned therewith on the door frame or jamb. The lock assembly includes a rotatable hub adapted to be actuated by a suitable tool or handle and having a pivot arm connected to one end of each of a pair of locking arms which are operatively connected at theiropposite ends through a control pin to a swinging lock bolt. A pair of adjustment plates controls the movement of the locking arms and control pin for swinging movement of the bolt. The bolt is mounted to swing on a pivot pin retained in position by the adjustment plates.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a lock assembly for a sliding door where the lock bolt in locked position has a deadlocking position necessitating a short horizontal movement rearward prior to the swinging of the bolt to unlocked position. The deadlocking position and the path of movement of the swinging bolt is provided by aligned arcuate slots in the adjustment plates having aligned deadlocking recesses at one end of each arcuate slot. The control pin carried by the locking arms projects through the lock bolt, locking arms and into the slots in the adjustment plates and coperates with the plates to provide the swinging movement of the bolt. A coil spring within the bolt is connected to both the control pin and the pivot pin and tends to draw these pins to geher.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a lock assembly for sliding doors having an adjustment means to adjust the lock bolt in the lock assembly housing relative to the lock plate in the door frame so that engagement of the hook end of the bolt with the locking plate properly retains the door against the door frame. The adjustment means includes an adjusting yoke mounted between the ends of the adjustment plates op- CII 3,437,364 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 ICC posite the hub and having opposed sets of grooves therein. A rotatable adjusting rod is mounted in the housing to project through the yoke and has opposed serrated or grooved surfaces adapted to engage the grooved surfaces in the yoke. A arc of rotation either engages or disengages the adjusting rod with the yoke.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of the lock assembly mounted in a door and the locking plate mounted on the door frame with the lock bolt in locked position, spacing between the door and frame being shown for bolt adjustment and for inclusion of a sealing means or gasket (not shown).

FIG. 2 is an edge elevational view of the lock assembly removed from the door.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional View of the lock assembly taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and showing the lock components in unlocked position with the lock bolt withdrawn.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the lock bolt in locked position and the structure in a second position of adjustment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 and showing the adjustment means for the lock assembly.

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged edge elevational View of the adjusting rod in the housing.

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 7 7 of FIG. 5 showing the adjusting means in engaged adjusted position.

FIG. 8 is a partial vertical cross sectional view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the adjusting means in disengaged position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjusting rod.

FIG. l0 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the lock assembly structure removed from the housing.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings wherein is shown an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, FIG. l discloses a lock assembly 10 mounted in a slot 11 formed in the edge of a sliding door 12 and having a bolt adapted to engage a locking plate 13 secured by suitable securing means 14 to a door frame or jamb 15; the locking plate having a slot or opening 16 aligned with a recess 17 in the frame receiving the locking bolt to lock the door in closed position. The lock assembly 10 includes a housing 18 having a side wall 19 and a parallel rear wall 21 and front wall 22. The front wall is provided with rounded ends 23, a rectangular generally central slot 24 and a circular opening 25 having an enlarged diameter arcuate portion 26 therein.

A cover 27 for the housing 18 has a side wall 19"1 and end walls 28 having mounting tabs or lian-ges 29 integral therewith and extending outwardly from the housing. The flanges 29 have openings 31 therein to receive suitable securing means 32 to mount the housing in the door. The cover 27 also provides a flange 33 extending across the front of the housing adjacent the upper flange 29 and having an open-ended slot 34 therein; the slot 34 in the ange 33 being aligned with the opening 25 in the front wall 22 and with an opening 35 in the rear wall 21. The side walls 19, 19a have aligned openings 36 for suitable securing means, such as screws 37, to retain the housing 18 and cover 27 together, and aligned enlarged openings 38.

A pivot arm 39 has a rotatable hub 41 (see FIG. 10) at one end with reduced ends 42 extending into and conformably received in the aligned openings 38 in the side walls 19, 19a. The hub 41 has a slot or other suitable opening 43 extending axially therethrough to receive the shank of a suitable handle 44 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The opposite end of the pivot arm 39 has a hub portion 45 on one side and oppositely extending projections 46 on each side of the arm. A coil spring 47 is positioned with the coils thereof encompassing the rotatable hub 41 of the pivot arm with one extended spring arm 48 bearing against the rear wall 21 of the housing 18 and the other or second spring arm 49 having its curled end biased against the hub portion 45 so as to rotatably bias the pivot arm 39 in the counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGS. l and 4.

A pair of spaced elongated irregularly shaped adjusting plates 51, 51 are mounted in parallel relation on either side of the pivot arm 39 in the lock assembly 10, with each plate 51 having an enlarged opening 52 adjacent one end thereof complementally receiving the hub 41 of the pivot arm. Each plate 51 is also provided with an opening 53 to receive a pivot pin 54 and an adjacent arcuate slot 55 having a recess or offset 56 at one end, the slot 55 receiving a control pin 57 to be described later. The plates 51, 51 each have a narrowed end or neck 58 having an irregular opening 59 therein for a purpose to be described later; the openings 52, 53 and 59 and the slots 55 in the two plates each being aligned to operate together.

A pair of elongated irregularly shaped locking arms 61, 61 are mounted in parellel spaced relation within or at the interior of the adjusting plates 51, 51 (see FIGS. 2 and 10). Each locking arm 61 has an opening 62 adjacent one end 63 receiving a projection 46 therein of the pivot arm 39 and an angularly positioned slot 64 in the opposite enlarged end 65 to receive the control pin 57. A lock bolt 66 has an enlarged body 67 with an offset arm 68 terminating in a lateral hook end 69 having a rounded outer camming surface 71 and a locking surface 72. The body 67 is slotted as at 73 and is provided with a pair of parallel but offset or staggered slots 74 and 75 therein; the slot 74 receiving the pivot pin 54 and the slot 75 receiving the control pin 57. The slot 73 of the body houses a coil spring 76 having a central coil and curled ends 77 and 78 with the curled end 77 encompassing the pivot pin 54 and the curled end 78 encompassing the control pin 57; the coil spring 76 tending to draw the pins 54 and 57 together.

At the upper end of the lock assembly is an adjusting device for the lock bolt 66 which includes a generally square adjusting yoke 79 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) having oppositely disposed rectangular projections 81 which are received in the aligned irregular openings 59, 59 in the adjusting plates 51, 51. The yoke 79 is provided with a central generally cylindrical opening or passage 82 therethrough having oppositely disposed serrations or grooves 83 and oppositely disposed smooth surfaces 84.

Cooperating with the yoke 79 is an adjusting rod 85 (see FIG. 9) having an elongated shank 86 with an enlarged head 87 at one end and a reduced diameter cylindrical end 88 at the other. The shank 86 is provided with oppositely disposed grooves or serrations 89 separated by oppositely disposed flattened surfaces 91. The grooves 89 cooperate with the serrations 83 in the yoke to retain the rod 85 and yoke 79 in an adjusted position (FIG. 7) and, upon a 90 rotation of the rod 85, the attened sides 91 are aligned with the serrations 83 in the yoke (FIG. 8) to allow longitudinal movement of the yoke 79 relative to the rod 85.

The enlarged head 87 of the rod 85 has a slotted front projection 92 of a reduced diameter which is complementally received in the opening 25 in the front wall 22 of the housing 18, and the projection 92 has a radially extending tab 93 received in the cooperating with the arcuate portion 26 of opening 25 to limit rotation of the rod 85 to a 90 are. The rear reduced end 88 of the rod is received in the aligned opening 35 in the rear wall 21. The open-ended slot 34 in the ange 33 receives the shank 86 of the rod 85 adjacent the enlarged head 87; the head 87 being positioned rearwardly of and between the front wall 22 of the housing 18 and the flange 33 of the cover 27.

Considering the operation of the lock assembly 10, the assembly is normally in the position of FIGS. l, 2 and 4 as the pivot arm spring 47 biases the pivot arm 39 in a counterclockwise direction which moves the bolt 66 to its normal locking position. To retract the bolt 66 into the housing 18 and cover 27, the handle 44 is manually rotated clockwise which in turn rotates the pivot arm 39 in a clockwise direction against the force of spring arm 49. Rotation of the pivot arm 39 causes the locking arms 61, 61 to move in an upward direction and, as the slots 64 in the ends 65 of the arms 61 are slanted, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the initial upward movement of the arms 61 causes movement to the right of the control pin 57 within the slot 75 of the bolt and out of the deadlocking recess 56 into the arcuate slot 55 of the adjusting plates 51. Further m-ovement of the arms 61 moves the control pin 57 in the arcuate slots 55 to rotate the bolt -66 around the pivot pin 54 until the bolt is completely retracted within the housing and cover (see FIG. 3). Release of the handle 44 allows the spring 47 to rotate the pivot arm 39 in a counterclockwise direction and return the assembly to its initial condition and position with the control pin 57 in its deadlocking recesses 56.

If the door 12 is moved toward the jamb or frame 15 so that the bolt engages the locking plate 13, the bolt 66 will not be damaged but will retract into the housing 18. To cause this retraction, the camming surface 71 of the bolt 66 engages the strike plate 13 and moves the bolt to the right, as seen in FIG. l with the bolt moving relative to the pivot pin 54 due to the slot 74. Movement of the bolt to the right causes the slot to move the control pin 57 out of the deadlocking recesses 56 into the arcuate slots 55 so that the bolt can be cammed to rotate and be retracted into the assembly 10. When the door engages the frame, the spring 47 will cause the parts to resume their normal position with the hook end 69 of the bolt 66 received in the recess 17 behind the strike plate 13 and the latching surface 72 of the bolt cooperating with the interior surface of the plate 13.

When the bolt is in locked position as shown in FIG. l, it can only be retracted by a handle 44 or other equivalent actuating means. The bolt cannot be retracted by the use of a tool inserted between the edge of the door 12 and the frame 15 as the bolt 66 must be initially moved horizontally before being rotated when the handle 44 or other means causing rotation of the pivot arm 39 is not used.

As the dimensions of sliding doors and frames will vary as will the type of sealing gaskets used thereon, the bolt 66 is capable of ladjustment relative to the assembly 10 and the door 12 to assure proper locking and retention of the door in the frame 15 and proper engagement therebetween. FIGS. 1, 3 and FIG. 4 show two positions of adjustment of the bolt. To vary the adjustment of the bolt 66, the adjusting rod is rotated 90 using a screwdriver or other tool in the slotted head 92 to disengage the serrations 89 on the rod 85 from the serrations 83 in the yoke 79 as seen in FIG. 8. Then by grasping the hook end 69 of the bolt 66, it is manually moved in or out relative to the housing with the yoke 79 moving relative to the rod 85 and causing rotation of the adjusting plates 51, 51 around the hub 41 of the pivot arm 39. When the proper adjusted position is achieved, the adjusting rod 85 is rotated 90 to reengage the serrations 89 on the rod 85 with the serrations 83 in the yoke 79 5 (FIG. 7) and retention in the newly adjusted position of the bolt.

While the improvement has been shown and described as being advantageously applicable to a sliding door lock assembly, it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily limit the`scope or the utility of the improved features by virtue of this illustrative embodiment.

Having thus disclosed my invention, l claim:

1. A door lock mechanism cooperating with a strike plate in the frame for the door, comprising a housing mounted in the edge of a door, a laterally movable and rotatable lock bolt mounted in the housing and having a hook end adapted to project beyond the housing for engaging the strike plate, said hook end having a camming surface and a latching surface, a pivot arm rotatable in said housing around a hub formed at one end of the arm, resilient means biasing the pivot arm in one direction of rotation, a pair of spaced parallel locking arms each rotatably mounted at one end on the end of the pivot arm opposite the hub, a control pin extending through the lock bolt and received in the opposite ends of the locking arms, a pair of spaced parallel adjusting plates in said housing and rotatably mounted adjacent one end on each side of the hub, adjusting means operatively connected to the opposite ends of the adjusting plates to retain the plates in adjusted position in the housing, said adjusting plates each having an aligned opening and an aligned arcuate slot, and a pivot pin extending through the bolt and received in the aligned openings in the adjusted plates, said control pin extending into the aligned arcuate slots for movement therein, each slot terminating at one end in a deadlocking recess receiving the first mentioned pin in the normal position of the pivot arm and locking arms, said lock bolt having a pair of parallel olfset slots therein receiving the control pin and the pivot pin.

2. A door lock mechanism as set forth in claim 1, in which said lock bolt is laterally slotted, and a coil spring received in the slot in the bolt and provided with one end engaging the control pin and an opposite end engaging the pivot pin tending to draw the pins together.

3. A door lock mechanism as set forth in claim 1, in which each locking arm has a slot at one end receiving the control pin, said slot in the normal position of the locking arm being inclined to the deadlocking recess and the slots in the lock bolt.

4. A door lock mechanism as set forth in claim 1, in

which said adjusting means includes an adjusting yoke operatively connected to the adjusting plates and having a central passage therethrough having longitudinally extending alternate serrated portions and smooth arcuate portions, and an adjusting rod rotatably mounted in the housing and projecting through the passage, said rod having longitudinally extending alternate serrated portions and flattened sides cooperating with the serrated portions and smooth arcuate portions in the yoke.

5. A door latch mechanism as set forth in claim 4, in which said adjusting rod includes an enlarged end having a reduced diameter slotted projection, a radially extending tab formed on said projection, and said housing having a front wall With an opening receiving said slotted projection, said opening having an enlarged arcuate portion receiving the tab and limiting rotation of the rod to an arc of 90.

6. A door latch mechanism as set forth in claim 5, in which said rod and said yoke are each provided with a pair of oppositely disposed serrated portions, and said yoke has a pair of oppositely disposed smooth arcuate sur-faces and the rod has a pair of oppositely disposed flattened sides such that a 90 rotation of the rod engages or disengages the serrated portions on the rod with the serrated portions in the yoke.

7. A door latch mechanism as set forth in claim 3, in which rotation of the pivot arm against the resilient means causes movement of the locking arms to move the rst mentioned pin out of the deadlocking recess and into the arcuate slot to pivot and retract the bolt in the housing about said pivot pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,789,852 4/1957 Eads 292-1l0 2,928,689 3/1960 Mineah 292113 2,980,458 4/1961 Russell 292-1l3 3,019,043 l/l962 Woodworth et al. 292-113 3,105,711 10/1963` Woodworth et al. 292-113 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. R. L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

